“Pray for me “ African cup of nations hero, coach Kadiri Ikhana begs Nigerians from his sick bed
By Abdulgafar Oladimeji
Nigeria’s 1980 nation cup hero, Kadiri Ikhana, MON has appealed to Nigerians to oblige him in their prayers.
Kadiri, who is reported to have made the request in his feeble conversation with his former team mate, mathematical Segun Odegbami.
Odegbami , now an renown sports blogger, who confirmed his discussion with Kadiri said It is absolutely clear to me that most of us, retired international Nigerian athletes, need help. We are suffering, living in pain, poverty and poor health. In the past 4 months, 5 of us have died, and at relatively young ages too.
“We are yet to finish mourning and to bury four of the five sports heroes when frustrating news comes, two days ago, of another sports hero at death’s gates. I appeal to the government of Edo State, to the National Sports Commission, to the Nigeria Football Federation, and to kindhearted Nigerians to intervene and come to the aid of Kadiri Ikhana, MON. Odegbami appealed
He noted that “Yes, the same one, the ex-soldier, ex-international football player and member of the 1980 African Cup of Nations winning team, member of Bendel Insurance FC that dominated domestic Nigerian football at the end of the 1970s, and, easily, the most successful coach in domestic football history in Nigeria.
According to Odegbami in his viral post, he further said “ Kadiri is lying critically ill in Auchi, A ‘good Samaritan’, Hon. Austin Braimoh, immediate past Chairman, South-South Police Service Commission, brought Kadiri’s situation to my attention and got me to speak with ‘Kawawa’ as I refer to Mr. Kadiri Ikhana.
Adding that “Yesterday afternoon, Kawawa was referred and transferred to Irrua Specialist Teaching hospital, Auchi, Edo State, for more intensive investigation and for immediate blood transfusion in order to save his life. Hon. Braimoh has been paying the mounting bills, so far, to keep Kadiri alive.
He said “In a muffled voice when he was conscious enough and able to utter a few words, Kadiri begged me to ask Nigerians to pray for him. That’s what I am doing now. “
